Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-07

ssstse Unveiled as view Orleans
IeG. Dnvts's Tribute GO she
Deaa Here

ny telegraph 10 the Dispa'cs.l
INV ORLEANS, April 6.-The cere-
monies incident to the unwilling OF the
statue to General Albert Sidney john
ston ON the tomb OF The Beneyo-
lent Association Of the Army OF
Tennessee, in Metairc cemetery, took
place at 3 o'clock to-day. There was an
immense assemblage OF people present,
probably over ten thousand. Veteran
associations, Including Grand-Army
posts, attended in a body. Upon the
platform were many distinguished per-
sons, including Mr.. and Mrs. Jefferson
Davis, Miss Varina Davis, General
Peauregard and staff, Governor Nc
Emery and staff, Mrs. Albert Sidney
Johnston; Colonel William Preston
Johnston and family Colonel Throck-
morton, United States army, and osher
officers; Charles Dudley Warner, OF
New York; Generals Hooker and Wal
thall; Governor Lowrey, OF Misss-
sippi, and many others.
The ceremonies opened with prayer
by Rev. DR.. A. J. Witherspoon, chaplain
OF Army OF Tennessee. The statue OF
wns presented by Fendell Horn, second
yice-president, and was received by
Judge W. H. Rogers, president. The
statue was unveiled by Rosa Robinson,
aged six years, great-granddaughter OF
General Johnston, and Miss Jennie
Rogers, daughter OF Judge Rogers.
The members of the Fifth company of
Washington Artillery fired a salute of
thirty-eight guns.
Poems by Mrs. Mary Ashby Town
send, of New Orleans, and Mrs. Kate b.
Sherwood, of Toledo, Ohio. were read.
General Randall l.. Gibson, United
States senator, delivered the Grafton OF
the day, and was followed by Hon.
Jefferson Davis.
Mr.. Davis said
II words could add anything TO tho effect
which this scene produces, then should regret
that my physical ability does not allow me 70
address 80 large an audience as this. sidney
,JOhnaton's fame rests upon his deeds It re-
quires no embellishments from any one, and IL
Il did, the able orator you have heard has done
all thai the occasion could require. To you. nay
brethren OF the Louisiana division Of the Army
OF Tennessee. wish 10 offer my cOnora.nla-
tons for your eminent success in tho task you
undertook despite the leers and evil prophesy
Of those who said you could not succeed. You
have succeeded, and tpointing to the statue)
there is to-day, i believe, the best eques-
trian statue, man and horse, that Is
to 20 found In auy country. Applause
There IL The head and neck. familiar 10 many
Of you. 81 the horse bo rode when he received
his dc aLh- wound-copied know not bow, but
Instinct With resemblance. There Is the grand
figure Of our hero as wo have soon him on
horsehgck-a perfect Cavalier as wei Is fear
| LEGO soldier. You have done well TO ombody
this herois statue In material more enduring
than granite; not that his fame was likely TO
Ilminish, nor that you required any yisi-
| bic sign TO remind you OF his great
noss, or warm your affection for him;
but that in the coming time, as the
Youths Of cur country pass by, they may
| lock at that statue and say, well, who Il
this9u and learn the story OF n man who was as
good az he Hae great, and as great as humanity
permits n man 10 be. knew Sidney Johnston,
believe, better than knew any other man,
perhsps-because his character was written 80
legibly that IL was easy 70 comprehend IT. BE
that as IL may, we had been associated In coll
lege; from college wo went TO the Military
Academy. and from there wo went in o
the army. | pause for moment on
the period when we were cadets together.
believe, as rule, that boys arc better judges
Of each other than their professors are OF them.
Johnston stood eminent Ia the corps OF cadets
always courteous. always ready for duty, al
ways proficient. believe that II you will 90
among the cadets who were In the corps with
him and ask who was the grandest charactor
they knew In the corps, the answer would be
generally, il rot universally, Albert Sidney
Johnston. That Is my opinion and the opinion
have heard expressed by many, among
others, by a man who was at the heal OF
his class and who Is one OF the great
est sayants this country has produced.
We entered the army together and were In the
came branch Of service. We we're together in
the barracks and In Indian campaigns, aud
remember now the time when saw him. When
deadly disease was spreading among the men
in camp Sidney Johnston was there-himself
suffering yet calm and attentive 10 those vino
we're suffering mere than himself. He showed
notTepidation IL twas not in his nature to do 40.
The man had been Is a lion In battles, and
shen he stopped over suffering cOmrade his
yves mOstened with more than mothers
geakneGs. such WAS the nature OF this
mans heart. Then we served In foreign war
Oceiher. / could not tell you much OF that
nei iod without being subject to the charge OF
goth 10, for, sipgly aud alone, We two have
-iyCd Whelo death seemed to como every mo-
inent. and there Sidney Johnston was as calm
IS ! ever saw him In camp. His DECISION was
e quick as Tihe-powder II speak TO infantry
men, who know how quick that Isl Then
here was ono characteristic OF him
ahich prevailed throughout the whole course
CT his life, and that was his chiYalric
temrer lie neyer deserted friend. and was
none 10 step in front OF q friend when he saw
him assailed. lie was knghily, but not Grant.
When he saw Texas struggling for the right he
thou ght belonged 10 ell men-the right Of self
goveinment-he went 90 volunteer without re-
rCmmendation, taking his place in tho ranks
10 fight for tho liberty OF Texas, In order that
PIE night have government OF her own. AS
tine were on his merit was discovered, and he
was rEiscd 10 rank and position. When the war
gtth Mexico began we Ind but few troops
OF The Rio GT0nde, and in tho beginning OF the
wIrthere seemed little probability ~ success.
Jci nsiOn organized regiment, OF which he
gI.os artn and ma m IN
The support OF Zachary Taylor Afterward he
wes on the staff OF General Taylor. viii not
WOIIy you by going into details. Voice In the
cicwd: ;" Go on. y Alter the war with Mexlco-iny
friends. Twill GO on little longer lapplausel-
be WIS appointed paymaster under the Admin
ietIaiion u fIanklin Pierce, Yankee who
never faltored in the maintenance OF States'
Tiehis; q man who In the senate Of the United
states voted for every one Of the resolutions OF
Calhoun, though many southern senators did
foleluctantly. 1hanks TO New Hampshire for
brtoG.ng such a man "a FRANKLIN Pierce
IiorCc appointed Johnston paymaster ana
colcrcl Of the Second cavalry regiment, which
cave more distinguished officers 70 both
armies I'm the war between the States
th0n rEy other In the United States army.
Buchanan when President sent 10 me
10 ask. who do you think ought TO have
command Of the Utah expedition" did not
cheese 10 select one only from my army ac-
Guainiunoes. ard gave him three names. He
said: " Do you and General scott ever asroe
alGnl ally lnink. fAlu. tullh et no
retilrd: ain this instance you have named tho
same three men, They we're Penifer smith.
cf louisiana; Albert Sidney Johnston, and L.
T. Ice. Johnston was selected, and he was the
bt 81 selection. lie commanded the expedi.
ton 10 Utah, and was maze brgaiier-
general by breyct; 20 he had gone 10
tho highest grade next 10 cOmmander-in-chief
viii IN a short period after the Mexican war.
lI6ylcUsiy 10 that he had resigned from the
army aud lost his position.
when the war between the States COM
merced his rank and his reputation gave him
he right TO believe and expect all thai wol.d
| he given In the army Of tho United state3- Bu,,
hue 10 The chivnlric nature OF which have
sroseD, and seeing few States asserting their
rights 10 form Of government resting ON tho
consent 81 the governed. and the attempt OF
the majority TO deprive them OF that
| hight, he sacTihced all he had gained
ia the United States army, and travelled
acrcss a traokless desert 10 offer his ser
| vices 10 the minority struggling for rights.
None who knew Sidney Johnston could Imagine
him ignorant Of the fact that this small number
of mcn-without arms, without navy, without
works hops without material OF war-would
have 10 contend against terrible odds On the
neld q shiloh he made but one mistake. lie
Rad planned hat battle. and sent me tele-
rTsri which was lOsD which described II jus,
| as II wns fougft--,he only battle In the worlds
history that Wes fought rs the gcneralexpec,ed.
Tho mistake no made was In allowing some
lcdy else 10 direct the order OF march 80 That
the amy did not get 70 the field Of battle as
soon a. they should have arrived thore. john
4 eten xcg one dnv later In striking the enemy,